Severe storms damage the Plains and midwest as forecasts warn of tornadoes

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Severe storms across the Plains and Midwest on Monday caused property damage, minor injuries, and power outages while spawning multiple tornadoes in Kansas, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Continued threats of large hail, tornadoes, and flooding have prompted officials to warn residents to stay alert as damage assessments and cleanup efforts proceed.

Severe storms swept through the Plains and Midwest on Monday, causing damage to homes, infrastructure, and crops, while leaving several people with minor injuries. Meteorologists have warned of continued dangerous weather, including the possibility of large hail, tornadoes, and severe wind gusts on Tuesday afternoon and evening.

In Kansas, authorities reported multiple injuries but no fatalities. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office said three people sustained minor injuries in rural areas about 50 miles southwest of Kansas City. The city of Ottawa also experienced structural damage, although no injuries were reported. Officials from the National Weather Service (NWS) plan to conduct a damage assessment in Ottawa to determine if a tornado touched down in the area.

Miami County, Kansas, was among the hardest hit, with two people injured and several homes destroyed. The county's sheriff’s office noted that recreational vehicles and campers were overturned, and power lines in Hillsdale remained de-energized until clean-up operations could be safely carried out.

Further north, three confirmed tornadoes touched down in southern Minnesota, causing damage to farms and vehicles, with some reports of baseball-sized hail, according to Jake Beitlich, a meteorologist at the NWS Twin Cities office.

In northwestern Wisconsin, a tornado was reported near the village of Gilman, which has a population of about 380. While damage was minor, meteorologists from the NWS office in La Crosse continue to evaluate the tornado’s rating. In southwestern Wisconsin, storms stripped the roof off a manufactured home in the village of Steuben, but no injuries have been reported in the state.

The storm’s impact extended to power outages, forcing the closure of several schools around the Madison area on Tuesday morning due to loss of electricity. More than 25,000 customers in Wisconsin were reported without power.

Forecasters also warned of expected river and small stream flooding in the region as heavy rain continues to affect the Plains and Midwest. The NWS has urged residents to remain vigilant and prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions in the coming days.